Berlin, Nov 24, SPA -- Newly elected Chancellor Angela Merkelopened her first working session Thursday with her newCabinet, and was expected to immediately get down to policyissues. On the agenda were tax and budgetary matters and Germany'sparticipation in a European Union mission to police theborder crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, which ishoped will help foster peace between the Israelis and thePalestinians. Merkel was to travel to London later in the day for talkswith Prime Minister Tony Blair. Merkel took over from former Chancellor Gerhard Schroederon Tuesday. After her conservative Christian Democratic Unionperformed far worse than expected in September's election,she was forced into an unwieldy alliance with Schroeder'sSocial Democrats, who took half the Cabinet positions inher new government, according to a report of the Associated Press.--SPA1158 Local Time 0858 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/305093